Passenger:What?!?! You don’t have foodFlight Attendant:Yes we have food. We have Snack Packs, Snickers, Pringles, M&Ms…Passenger: (Interrupting) No…like real food?Flight Attendant: (THINKING: It’s not my job to pack your lunch) Smiling…umm, this is what we have.Passenger:What’s free?Flight Attendant:(delivered with an overexaggerated grin) Ice and Smiles.

Not many airlines serve meals these days, and many airlines charge for food or beverages. But, before you work yourself into a tizzy because you believe it’s your right to have free peanuts or a five course dinner on the flight, you might be interested to know that airline meals are potential sources of sickness.

In 2009, LSG Sky Chefs, caterer of airline meals, was found to be far under health code standards. The company food kitchens were crawling with roaches and food handlers were preparing food with dirty gloves or bare hands. Since then, LSG has cleaned up their facilities and has passed follow up health inspections.

Here’s your meal, sir. Oh that…yes. That’s in there for extra protein. Didn’t you request the Inflight Special of Roach Souffle?

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You may have heard in recent news, a suit was filed against American Airlines claiming that an airplane meal caused the death of a man. With the bankruptcy filing, I guess American just couldn’t afford spending any extra on making sure that the food was safe to eat (JOKING). In actuality, the more likely cause of death in this case was heart attack. I understand that food on airlines can be close to unedible, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it kills people.

If you don’t want to gag through an airline meal, or as most airlines don’t actually serve meals anymore, here is what I recommend. Pack a lunch. I have go-to travel foods that are easy to carry, healthy, and taste so much better than sodium laden Snack Packs. If you bring your own food, you will also save a few dollars by not purchasing the overpriced airport food.